Jewelry chain or linkage



Nov. 18, 1941- c. H. .KEsTENMAN 2,263,338

JEWELRY CHAIN OR LINKAGE i Filed Nov. 8, 1939 Patente'd Nov. 18, 1941 JEWELRY CHAIN OR LINKAGE Charles H. Kestenman, Providence, R. I., assignor to KestenmanfBros. Mfg. Co., Providence, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application November 8, 1939, Serial No. 303,390

1 Claim.

invention relates to jewelry` One of the objects of present invention is to J provide a chain or linkage of the type indicated embodying hollow articulated sections of one piece construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chain or linkage having sections of the type I indicated constructed from blanks folded to provide a face-plate, end walls and rear portions having spaced lugs projecting toward the rear of the face-plate adjacent the opposite ends of the sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chain or linkage having articulated sections of the type indicated arranged in closely adjacent side by side relationship with their spaced lugs at each end hooked into opposite looped connecting links extending into their open sides to join the sections.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a chain or linkage of the type indicated which is of simple and compact construction,

light in Weight to save stock and one which is of symmetrical shape and ornamental in appearance.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specication which describes, by Way of example, three forms lof jewelry chains or linkages incorporating the novel features of the present invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a linkage embodying a series of the present improved chain-sections connected in closely adjacent side by side relationship;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View of a portion of the chain shown in Fig. 1 with several of the chain-sections illustrated partly in section to show the manner in which they are joined by the looped connecting links;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the linkage shown partsectional on line 3--3 of Fig. 2 to illustrate the pairs of upstanding spaced lugs on each chainsection hooked into the openings between the side bars of adjacent connecting links;

Fig. 4 is an end View partly in section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the looped end portions of the chain-section and the upstanding lugs at each end thereof hooked into the opening in one of the connecting links;

sections and a pair of adjacent connecting links shown in disassembled relationship and inverted position with the chain-section partly formed prior to being connected in a linkage;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the end portions of the chain-section folded toward its face-plate to hook the opposite pairs of lugs on the end portions into the connecting links;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view partly in section of a linkage of modified construction showing recesses in the bars of the connecting links with sleeves enclosing the bars of adjacent links;

Fig. 8 is a sectional side View taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7 showing the sleeves embracing the opposite bars of pairs of connecting links and the lugs on the chain-sections hooked into the openings of said connecting links;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the chainsections, partly broken away, and a pair of connecting links showing the sleeve closely fitting the recesses in the bars of the connecting links and the folded endportions of the section cooperating with the sleeve to provide a finished surface;

Fig. l() is a plan vieW partly in section of a linkage of further modied construction having chain-sections with lugs folded from the sides instead of the ends of their rear portions and hooked into the adjacent connecting links;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line l I-ll of Fig. 10 showing the upstanding lugs on the of a bracelet chain or linkage comprising a series of articulated chain-sections 2 of the present improved construction arranged in closely adjacent side by side relationship and joined together by looped connecting links 3. Each chain-section 2 comprises a front or top face-plate 4 of any desired form or shape, end walls 5 and 6 and rearward or bottom portions 'l and 8 projecting inwardly toward each other from the end walls 5 and 6 in spaced relation to the face-plate, see Fig. 4. The rearward portions 1 and 8 are each provided with a pair of upstanding lugs 9 and I0 arranged in spaced relationship to form openings `ll therebetween. Thus the chain-sections Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the chain- 55 2 113V@ Open Sides and When arranged in contiguous side by side relationship provide continuous hollow channels or openings I2 and I3 at their ends with lateral openings II inwardly thereof.

The connecting links 3 may be of rectangular shape as illustrated in the present drawing or of any other appropriate contour with end bars I5 extending along the channels or openings I2 and I3 in adjacent chain-sections 2 and side bars I6 held in the lateral openings I I in the sections. The upstanding lugs 9 on the opposite rearward portions 'I and 8 of one chain-section 2 and the corresponding upstanding lugs I0 on the rearward portions of the adjacent chainsection project into the opening I 'I of each of the connected links 3 to join the adjacent chainsections together in a linkage, see Figs. 2 and 3. The lugs 9 and IS have a combined width slight- 1y less than the width of the opening II in the connecting links 3 to permit slight relative movement of the sections 2 to adapt the band or bracelet to flex to the contour of the wrist or other part on which it is worn. The corresponding lugs 9 Vand IU on the rearward portions 6 and 'Iof the chain-sections 2 are spaced from each other a distance equal to the length of the opening I'I in the connecting links 3 and engage the end bars I5 to hold the sections against movement laterally of the linkage.

Preferably, each chain-section 2 is constructed from a strip of sheet-metal and blanked `out to form the spaced lugs 9 and I0 at its opposite ends. The fiat blank may be stamped to provide the face-plate 4 of any desired contour and if Cil desired may be ornamented by embossing, enf graving, etching or otherwise. Either simultaneously with the stamping operation, or by separate operations, the lugs 9 and I0 are folded at right-angles to the blank and the'end portions 5 and E of the blank folded at right-angles to the face-plate 4 to provide a partly formed chain-section as illustrated in Fig. 5. .A pair of looped connecting links 3 are then placed Von the rear of the face-plate 4 and the end portions `5 and 6 again folded .to the positionillustrated in Fig. 6 to produce a nished Vchain-section, .the folding of the end portions acting to hook Vthe corresponding lugs S and I0 into the adjacent connecting links 3 to join the parts in a linkage.

It will be understood that the operation of folding the end portions of the chain-sections 2 may be lperformed in suitable tools or 4di-es and the connecting links 3 added continuously to produce an articulated bracelet chain or linkage of any desired length. side bars I6 of the connecting links 3, the width of the lugs 9 and I vor the spacing 'between the lugs. the relative-movement between the vsections 3 and thus the flexibility of the bracelet By varying thewidth of the j chain may be controlled. Preferably, connecting links 3 are provided at the end of the bracelet chain as illustrated in'Fig. 3 to -adapt it for connection with the balls of a wristwatch or suitable adapters not herein shown.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated u sections 2. The chain-sections 2 are joined by the connecting links 20 in the same manner as explained above with respect to the preferred form of bracelet chain illustrated in Figs. l to 5.

In accordance with the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9 the intermediate portions of the side bars 23 and 24 of adjacent connecting links 20 between the opposite lugs 9 and IIl of the chain-sections 2 are enclosed by rectangular sleeves 30 which, in effect, form continuations of the rearward or bottom portions 1 and 8 of the chain-sections. The sleeves 30 completely embrace the side bars 23 and 24 of the adjacent connecting links 20, see Fig. 8, and are of such length and thickness as to closely t in the recesses 2I and 22. Thus, the ends of the sleeves 30 form joints with the inside edges of thelugs 9 and Ill on the chain-sections 2 and cooperate with the end portions of the sections to conceal the connecting links 28 to present a more finished appearance on the bottom of the linkage. It will be understood that the sleeves 3B are made of the same material as the sections 2 to provide the proper li'lnish to the bottom or rearward faces of the chain. The presence of the recesses 2-I and 22 reduces the amount of stock required to form the links, and also that required to form the sleeves, in addition to providing greater space for the manipulation of tools or the like to clamp the sleeves in position. It is also pointed out that the sleeves 30 may be considered as added links for joining the connecting links 20 to form a chain on which the ornamental chain-sections 2 are superimposed and connected thereto by the engagement of the lugs 9 and I0 with the adjacent side bars 23 and 24 of the connecting links. The sleeves 30 may be applied first to form a continuous chain and the chain-sections 2' thereafter mounted thereon, the sides of the sleeves being seated in the recesses 21 and 22 `to permit the lugs 9 and ID to be folded into position at the ends of the sleeves.

The modified form of chain or linkage illustrated in Figs. 10 and 12 has connecting links 3 identical in form with those illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5. The ornamental chain-sections 40, however, are of modified construction having a faceplate 4I, end walls 42 and'43 and folded rearward or bottom portions 44 and 45 of `such length as to cause their -ends to abut and provide a continuous bottom wall. The bottom portions 44 and 45 are formed with traverse slits 46 and 41, intermediate their ends, as illustrated in 12, and the portions between thek slits are folded at right-angles to the main portions to 4.provide upstanding lugs 48 and 49 extending toward the face-plate 4I at right-angles to the plane of the end walls 42 and 43. The alined upstand-ing lugs 48 and 49 on each of the lbottom portions 44 and 45 cooperate to provide 1continuous flanges `which are adapted to engage the inside Vfaces yof the side bars I6 of the connecting links :3. in the modified form of construction illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12 the abutting rearward or bottom portions 44 and 45 of the lchain-sections v4l cooperate to provide a finished surface on the under side of the linkagerand the upstanding lugs 48 and 49 extend in planes at right-angles to the depending end Walls V42 and 43 instead of parallel thereto as in the embodiments/illustrated in Figs. `1 to 5. f

It will be observed from the foregoing'specification that the present invention provides several novel for-ms of chain or linkage sections of one piece construction having upstanding lugs for joining them to adjacent connecting links. It will be observed further that the present invention provides an improved chain or linkage which is of simple and compact construction, light in Weight, ornamental in appearance and requiring less of the expensive material from which such linkages are made than those now commonly used.

While several embodiments of the invention are herein described and illustrated it will be understood that other modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts of the linkage without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, Without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

A chain or linkage of the type set forth, including a plurality of rectangular sections disposed with their sides in close relation, platelike links connecting adjacent sections, each section having an upper member, parallel end Walls extended downwardly from the upper face of the member, and bottom portions extending inwardly toward each other, a pair of lugs spaced from each other and located at the inner end of each bottom portion and having inner ends which confront the under face of the upper member, the lugs of adjacent sections being aligned and disposed in substantial parallelism to the end Walls of the adjacent sections and received in the interiors of the links, the lugs being disposed adjacent to the end bars of the links and the combined widths of the lugs being substantially equal to the width of the interiors of the links, and said pairs of lugs of adjacent sections being spaced from each other longitudinally of the sections a distance substantially equal to the length of the interiors of the links, the links having the inner faces of their side bars recessed, and sheet metal sleeves folded around the adjacent side bars of adjacent links and closely fitted in the recesses, the ends of the sleeves forming joints with the adjacent lugs.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN. 

